Chapter 1

I'm nine months pregnant. Bleeding out on the living room floor. And my husband just stepped over me to go hold another woman's hand while she has her baby.

A sharp cramp pulls low in my belly. Something warm slides down my thigh. Blood.

"Liam." My voice is shaking. "Liam, something's wrong. I'm bleeding. Take me to the hospital."

He's right there on the couch. Phone pressed to his ear. He doesn't even glance up.

He hangs up, stands, snatches my hospital bag off the coffee table, and heads for the door.

"Liam—wait—I haven't even changed—"

He turns at the doorway, already half out of it. His face is flushed. In a hurry.

"Ruby's water broke. She doesn't have anything ready. I need to borrow your bag."

I sag against the wall. My legs won't hold me.

"What about me? Liam, I'm bleeding."

He slides my phone and key fob into his own pocket. Doesn't even slow down.

"You're not due yet, Stella. Quit playing the victim. I know you're just jealous."

"Be a good girl. Sit tight. I'll come keep you company when I get back."

The front door slams shut.

The deadbolt slides into place from the outside.

I drag my heavy body to the foyer and grab the handle. Twist. Yank. Throw my shoulder against it.

He locked me in.

There's no way to open it from inside.

A pain rips low through my belly. Hot liquid gushes down my thighs and splashes onto the hardwood.

My water just broke.

He took my phone. I drop to my hands and knees and crawl toward the landline in the corner. My fingers close around the receiver—

The cord is sliced clean through. Right at the base. The cut is fresh.

The contractions are coming faster now. Cold sweat beads on my forehead. I slide down the wall, leaving a long red streak behind me.

Some last animal instinct in me hauls itself toward the balcony.

We're on the second floor. There's a sidewalk down below. Somebody walks their dog at this hour. Somebody.

I shove the French doors open and lean out into the dark.

"Help!"

"Somebody—anybody—please call 911!"

A flashlight beam swings up and catches me square in the face.

It's the night patrol guy the HOA hires.

"Mrs. Holt." His voice is flat. Bored. "Ma'am. Come on. Cut it out."

My fingernails screech down the aluminum frame.

"Mr. Holt told us before he left. Said the pregnancy hormones have been real hard on you. Said you've been having these episodes—screaming, imagining you're in labor." He sighs. "He said no matter what we hear out of this house, just leave you be."

"My water broke!" I'm digging my nails into the railing now. " Please. Just call an ambulance, I'm having the baby—"

He shakes his head.

"Mr. Holt was real clear. Anybody who calls the cops or 911 on you is interfering with your marriage, and he'll come at us with a lawsuit. Go on back inside, ma'am. Don't make this hard."

He clicks off his flashlight and walks away.

I watch his back disappear into the dark. No sound comes out of my throat.

Liam thought of everything. Every door. Every neighbor. Every stranger who might've shown me a scrap of kindness—he killed it all before he ever walked out.

I stumble back inside. Black spots are eating the edges of my vision. The baby is kicking like crazy, like she knows.

My knees give. I crash into the coffee table and the glass fruit bowl on top of it shatters across the floor.

Not here. I am not dying here.

My fingers close around a long shard of glass. I'll break that door down. I don't care if it costs me my hand.

The red light on the ceiling camera blinks on.

Liam's voice comes through the smart speaker. Calm. Bored. Disappointed.

"Stella. Are you done throwing your tantrum yet?"

His voice fills the empty house like he owns the place. Like I'm a toddler having a meltdown and he's the grown-up.

He's actually checking the cameras. He's got the time.

I lift my head and stare straight into the blinking red dot. I raise my bloody hand to the lens.

"Liam. I'm bleeding. I'm really in labor."

He scoffs.

"Here we go again."

"Last time it was red ink. What is it this time? Ketchup?"

"Ruby is screaming in agony right now and you're putting on a one-woman show in our living room."

"Stella. You really disappoint me."

My whole body is convulsing. The blood under me has spread into a wide black pool on the hardwood.

"Liam." It comes out as a whisper. "For the baby."

"Call an ambulance."